Reader Spotlight

Once in a while a reader's comments deserve to be spotlighted. This is one of those cases. It is a well done example of taking something that is obvious and superimposing it over something that is not to demonstrate the fallacies of the not-so-obvious. We highlight it here to further create understanding of the problems we face. 

From reader "rprew":

My (tongue-in-cheek) proposal for another kind of insurance - Grocery Insurance!
It is been shown that weekly trips to the grocery store is becoming prohibitively expensive. Rather than shell out all that cash on our weekly trips to the food store, Grocery Insurance is now being offered to all (who can afford it). Naturally, since not everyone can afford it, the government will eventually have to get involved so that no one will need to be without grocery insurance.

Here is how it works:
For a month premium of only $300 per month, you won't have to pay anything when you go to the store. Well, there is a $20 per visit copay, and a $2000 per year deductible, but other than that, you don't need to pay anything during each visit. You get what you need and the grocery will bill the insurance company.

Well, actually, the insurance company will only pay 90% of the "reasonable and customary" charges for each billed item. You have to pay the other 10%. Unless you go to a non-network grocery store, in which case there is no copay but you will only get reimbursed at 70%. Oh, and if you go to a bakery (or other specialty food store), you will first need to get a referral from your primary grocery store.

Some items that the grocery may bill the insurance company may not be covered. You will not be responsible for the charges. Such items are things not really considered staples, such as ice cream, cake mixes, snack foods, etc.

Only a paranoid right wing nut job would think such a system could even possible result in increased food prices, shortages, billing fraud, or reduced number of choices on the store shelves.

Question 1: How is my proposed Grocery Insurance different than the current system of third party payer health insurance?
Question 2: How could government "reform" the Grocery Insurance industry to be cheaper, fairer, and more equitable?
Question 3: Would nationalized "foodcare" be any less practical or constitutional than nationalized healthcare?